Lady MacDonald Hike

I finally made it outside of the city outskirts and went on my first hike since arriving in Calgary, thanks to a good friend and a guy I played hockey with in the States over 10 years ago.  It was a beautiful hike and hard.  I think it took about 4 or 5 hours, round trip.  And, I was sore for about 3 days after, possibly 4.  Alas, here are the photos from the day.

 (There she be, ready to be hiked)

(It is difficult to tell, but this canyon was wiped out by the Great Calgary flood of 2013)

 (Making our way to the trail head, Lady MacDonald in the background)

 (The fellas stopped to check something out, possibly get a drink)

 (Saw a grouse on our way to the top)

 (Brooks in the lead - played with him in Youngstown, and Andy, whom I just met, hiking in Canadian fashion with a hockey stick)

 (View as we neared the top)

(I stopped at the 'tea house.'  I had had enough hiking and didn't feel like climbing up a lot of scree.)

(The fellas continued on.  Click on the picture and see if you can find them...)

(For some reason, I love this shot - jumping over the mountain)

(Again, if you click and look for them at the top, you might be able to see them...)

(Brooks, Andy, and Myself)

(A little video from the tea house...)

What a Difference a Day Makes...

I found these pictures on an old camera card a few days ago.  They are of my final day in Juneau.  There are quite a few emotions tied into these photos and it is a bitter sweet memory.  It was quite a busy day and I was able to see quite a few things my last day in Juneau.  It started at the Treadwell Gold Mine, an old abandoned mine that was one of the finest during its time.  It was an interesting mix of humans and nature and the impact on the environment.  It was a nice little hike.  After that, we made our way to Mendenhall Glacier, a natural beauty.  Then it was off to the Alaskan Brewing company for a few drinks and the evening finished at the Red Dog Saloon.  Here are the photos:

(Ski Wall)

(I guess people just drop off skis and this guy has built this wall in front of his house)

 (This was the start of a hike through the Treadwell Gold Mine)

 (Quite a bit of the debris was not cleaned up after the mine shut down)

(You could also see the old foundations in quite a few places)

(This was just a fun shot)

(An old, worn down building)

(Some more fun stuff)

(A nice little building along the path)

(I believe this is an old water turbine)

(This was the foundation to the power station)

(View at the end of the path)

(Nature and human mix)

(A little more nature and human mix)

(I forget what this big thing was... I think it was a stamp/press to break up the rock and get the gold out of it)

(Next we made our way to the Mendenhall Glacier)

(An interesting ice formation)

(After that, we ended up at the Alaskan Brewing Company...)

(I was hoping to go on a tour, but they said they weren't offered in the winter)

(Instead, a nice young gentleman gave us about a 10 minute history)

 (This was in the tap room.  Drinks were free, they just ask that you make donations and each month, donations go to a different charity.)

(They have beers from around the world)

 (Also, you could buy a few taps)

(Finished the evening at the Red Dog Saloon, a tourist staple)

 (A mountain goat)

(A little view of the bar)

 (A gun Wyatt Earp checked but never picked up)

 (A few guns)

(Some licence plates)

 (A top down view of the bar)

 (This was a 300 pound halibut, I think)

 (Some deer antlers used as chandelier)

(I think this picture sums up the end of the trip)

Well Said Bob...

“He’s not perfect. You aren’t either, and the two of you will never be perfect. But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice, and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold onto him and give him the most you can. He isn’t going to quote poetry, he’s not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break. Don’t hurt him, don’t change him, and don’t expect for more than he can give. Don’t analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad, and miss him when he’s not there. Love hard when there is love to be had. Because perfect guys don’t exist, but there’s always one guy that is perfect for you." – Bob Marley

Just an Evening Walk Down to the Lake

Last night we took a walk down to the lake to look for Saskatoon berries.  Unfortunately, it is still a bit early in the season but the walk itself was rather enjoyable - a few flowers, some dragon flies, and a zombie bear hunter.  The mosquitoes are still quite pesky, but thanks to the dragonflies, they are not nearly as bad.  I must say, it's quite the place...  here are a few of the photos.

 (I believe this was a dandelion) 

(Not quite sure what kind of flower this is, but Mikey would know)

 

(The gate we passed through to get down to the lake)

 (The view as we got close to the lake) 

 (The little guy I'm living with was on a butterfly hunting mission)

 (He had on his cool shades and a sweet pick up line)

 (By the end, we were no longer looking for butterflies but hunting zombie bears and throwing them into the lake)

 (And let me tell you, he was one heck of a zombie bear hunter)

 (I forget what he was telling me in this photo)

(The Wilkie Family - Mikey, Sade, the little guy, and Bob)

 (View of the prairie)

(If you look closely you can see a dragonfly.  If you look even closer, you can see a dragon fly eating a mosquito.)

(Mikey and Bob walking back up to the house)

(Mikey was the new zombie bear hunter) 

(One last view of the lake and prairie as we headed back to the house)

(Mikey got a great shot of this swallow feeding its youngsters)